By Amos Aar
A HEATED controversy has erupted in Benue State as former Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Avine Agbom, accuses state government of land grab and its officials of mishandling the construction of a mega IDP camp in Mbayongu Community.
Mbayongu, a community located between Daudu and Makurdi, a few kilometres from the Makurdi toll gate, is on the boundary between Gua and and the state capital but however falls under Makurdi LGA of the state.
At the core of the dispute is the contentious issue of land ownership and alleged broken promises made to the community regarding the project.
According to Hon. Agbom, the Benue State Government initially approached him with a proposal to build an IDP camp in Mbayongu, offering incentives such as electricity and boreholes.
Agbom stated that the community, after initial hesitations, agreed to donate 200 plots of land for the project.
Agbom has, however, alleged via a Facebook post, dated January 12, 2025, that the government failed to uphold its end of the bargain, claiming that there was no Memorandum of Understanding, no proper compensation for affected farmers, and that the land acquired exceeded the agreed measure.
In his emotion-laden post, Agbom apologised to his Mbayongu people, admitting he had misled them into giving up their land.
He accused the Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, and his counterpart Commissioner of Lands, Survey, and Solid Minerals for failing to honour their commitments.
When contacted to provide evidence of the land ownership in favour of Mbayongu and other details of the engagement between his people and the state government, Agbom declined further comment, citing pressure on him as a result of the uproar generated by his social media post.
However, in response to these allegations, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, dismissed Agbom’s claims.
Speaking in an interview with National Record and other media outlets, Kunde asserted that the land is government-owned, adding that farmers affected by the project were compensated via bank transfers. He claimed evidence of account numbers and evaluations exist to substantiate this.
“Mbawa and Nyiev community, where the IDP camp is situated, is a forest land that belongs to the government. The land acquisition dates back to the administration of Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu. It is not under Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia’s administration. We identified the land to improve the living conditions of IDPs who were in dire conditions,” Kunde explained.
Addressing concerns about compensation, Kunde clarified that only farmers cultivating the land at the time of acquisition were compensated. “We are not paying for land that already belongs to the government. The compensations were for farmers using the land. Items like cash, food, and other materials were also distributed to the community,” he said.
When pressed to disclose the exact compensation amounts, Kunde declined, citing confidentiality and urging beneficiaries to come forward with details. He also reiterated that the IDPs would be relocated to their ancestral homes after two years.
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Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Lands, Survey, and Solid Minerals, Hon. Martin Shaagee, also implicated in the allegations, was unavailable to provide his perspective. Citing ill health, he promised to address the issues once he recovers.
This controversy has sparked concerns about transparency and accountability in government projects, particularly those involving land acquisition and community displacement.
Agbom maintains that the land belongs to the Mbayongu people and insists their rights and interests should take precedence.
The Benue State Government is now under pressure to address these allegations, clarify ownership of the land, and ensure the affected community is adequately compensated.
How the government handles this situation could set a significant precedent for future projects involving community resources.
